Dont Justify Extremism Naidu

Andhra
Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has called for media support for
his government`s efforts to end Maoist extremism, saying violence cannot be
justified in the name of any cause.

Unhappy
with journalists for projecting the extremist movement as a
"socio-economic" issue, Naidu asked the media to emulate their
counterparts in the United States and rally behind his government in dealing
with the problem.

Naidu
expressed his displeasure at a news conference here on Wednesday when he was
asked whether his government treated the Naxalites, or Maoist extremists, as a
law and order issue. The news conference was organised to present 21
surrendered extremists before the media.

"It
is not a question of socio-economic problem. All sections of society have to
unite to fight the problem of extremism," Naidu said.

"Is
there any socio-economic problem behind (Osama) bin Laden`s attacks on the
U.S.?" he asked, pointing out how the media in the American was supporting
the Bush administration`s fight against terrorism.

Naidu
said social and economic problems were bound to occur, but one could not
justify killings in their name. "Society is important, not a few
individuals," he said.

The
chief minister reiterated his appeal to extremists to eschew the path of
violence and join the mainstream. He assured them of all help in their
rehabilitation. He said the government would slowly withdraw cases registered
against the Naxalites once they surrender.

He,
however, ruled out stopping operations against the rebels as a precondition to
holding talks with the extremists. "As per the Constitution of India I
have to maintain law and order. We are ready for talks but we can`t stop
maintaining law and order," he said.

The
Committee for Concerned Citizens has appealed to the government and the
People`s War Group (PWG) -- the most powerful Maoist extremist outfit in Andhra
Pradesh -- to find a solution to the problem through talks.

Naidu
claimed that impoverished youths in rural areas joined the extremist movement
not because of its ideology but because rebels misled them, exploiting their
circumstances.

Twenty-one
Naxalites have surrendered in the districts of Warangal, Karimnagar and
Adilabad in the last few days. All but one of them carried a reward of Rs.
20,000 each on their head. Fifteen of them belonged to the PWG while six were
from the Janasakthi and Praja Pratighatana groups.

Some
of the surrendered Naxalites spoke on the reasons for their joining the
movement and leaving it. The chief minister himself asked them questions, but
some of their replies ended up embarrassing him and the police officers
present.

Katkuri Venkateswarlu, a district committee member of the
PWG in Warangal, said he first joined the group in 1985 and left it within a
year. "But it was police harassment after my surrender which forced me to
again join the organisation in 1987," the 38-year-old surrendered rebel
said. He was accused of nine murders and carried a reward of Rs. 300,000 on his
head.

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